BD Medical–Ophthalmic Systems introduces new safety knives

Waltham, MA-BD Medical–Ophthalmic Systems, a unit of BD (Becton, Dickinson and Co.), has launched a new line of safety knives (BD Atomic Edge).

The blades, made of single-crystal silicon, are developed through the technology and processes used in the fabrication of semiconductors.

“Silicon and diamond have the same diamond cubic crystalline structure,” said Doug Lawrence, vice president and general manager, BD Medical–Ophthalmic Systems. “Using semiconductor manufacturing technology, [the company] offers an alternative to a diamond blade at the price of a single-use blade.”

To reduce the risk of sharps injuries associated with ophthalmic surgery, each blade is mounted in a safety handle with a retractable shield.
 
“In this era of concerns about blood-borne diseases such as HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C, and variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, reducing the risk of accidental injury or contamination with patient blood is of great interest to all health-care workers,” said Randall J. Olson, MD, director, Moran Eye Center, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City. “Shielded safety knives can go a long way to protecting health-care professionals during surgery.”